§ Sir Richard Bodyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has about grants, aids or subsidies from the French Government which are available to United Kingdom companies wishing to move to the area around Calais and the extent to which further assistance can be given out of the EEC regional development fund.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkUnited Kingdom companies may qualify for various forms of assistance offered by the French authorities depending on the type of project or activity which the companies wish to undertake. We understand that the Calais area is covered by the French Government's system of regional aid and that United Kingdom companies may be eligible for such aid if the various conditions of the system are met. It is, of course, for the French Government to decide which regionally-aided industry projects are submitted to the European Commission from this and other eligible regions in France for a contribution from the European regional development Fund (ERDF) towards the public expenditure cost of the domestic aid; and it is then for the Commission to decide which applications for ERDF contributions are accepted under the rules of the fund.